Tirunallar Sanesswaran Temple Tour from Trichy,Chennai

Saturn, known as Shani in Indian Astronomy is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest.  Shani is considered to have a malefic influence on events.  This is not necessarily true.  This powerful graha has as much a capacity to bestow unlimited favours on the deserving as to punish the evil.

Tirunallar is 65 kms from Kumbakonam and 3 kms from Karaikal, the former French territory.  The Rajagopuram of this temple is five tiered with a lot of stuccowork. The shrine of Shani is a small ornamental copper shrine.  There are many holy water tanks namely Brahma teertam, Saraswati teertam,  Agastiya teertam, Hamsa teertam and Nala teertam. Architectural features indicate that the outer portions of the temple date from the Chola period.

Pilgrims usually discard the clothes they are wearing, bathe at the Nala teertam after smearing themselves with the oil of sesame seeds and wear a fresh set of clothes; symbolic of throwing off one’s misfortunes and of being a precursor of good times to come.

Powerful Shani bestows unlimited favours on his worshippers, just as he has the capacity to inflict punishments on those who deserve it due to “karma”.  In some instances, when Shani is placed in a favourable position in a horoscope he can be surprisingly benevolent and reveal hidden treasure. Shani is the Graha in charge of longevity and death. Those apprehensive of premature death invoke shani’s blessings for a long life. Alternatively one can pray Yama, Shani’s elder brother.

Temple Timings: 06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:00 PM